Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has publicly criticised Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, for her assertion that Nigerian law prohibits her from transferring citizenship to her children because she is a woman.
During her appearance on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, Dabiri-Erewa dismissed Badenoch’s claim as “misleading” and “completely untrue,” referencing Section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution. That section states that anyone born outside Nigeria is eligible for citizenship if either parent holds Nigerian nationality.
“But that is not true. Don’t divulge false information. You go on international media and spin a lie—that is a lie—that is not even true. And I’m sure people have responded,” she said on Friday.
The NIDCOM head emphasized that while the Nigerian government values its diaspora population, it would not remain silent when falsehoods are publicly shared about the country. She argued that public misinformation, especially from someone with Badenoch’s platform, must be addressed.
“It’s not true, so why tell us something that is not true? Do you know the number of Nigerians we have in the UK in the political space who are doing very well? We don’t have to focus on one person, but when you denigrate your country, we reply to you,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
She continued: “It’s not about me, or the President, or you—it’s about Nigeria. You can’t lie about your country, and then we keep quiet. There are many who are doing very well politically. So ours is to continue to work with every Nigerian in the diaspora, but you can’t force anybody.”
Badenoch sparked controversy with her comments in a recent interview, stating, “It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents. I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”
She added: “Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK and stay for a relatively free period of time, acquire British citizenship. We need to stop being naive.”
Her remarks prompted swift criticism, with Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, labelling them as “a display of utter ignorance.” Falana further accused Badenoch of intentionally spreading misinformation to sway public opinion in Britain.
This is not Badenoch’s first clash with Nigerian officials. In December 2024, Vice-President Kashim Shettima publicly condemned her for her repeated negative portrayal of Nigeria, accusing her of using disparaging rhetoric to separate herself from her heritage.
Badenoch has previously drawn fire for labelling Northern Nigerians as “ethnic enemies” and declaring stronger allegiance to her Yoruba identity over the Nigerian nation. She also alleged that Nigerian police officers once stole her brother’s shoes and wristwatch, and described the country as “a very poor country” with a law enforcement system that misuses power.
The Nigerian presidency dismissed her comments as baseless, while figures like Femi Fani-Kayode denounced her for hypocrisy, pointing out that despite her criticisms, Nigerian police were still protecting her family in Lagos.
Critics have often accused Badenoch of deliberately alienating herself from her country of origin to appeal to a conservative British audience. According to NIDCOM, she has ignored several efforts by the commission to connect and collaborate with her.
On 2 November 2025, Badenoch was elected leader of the UK Conservative Party, replacing Rishi Sunak after the party’s defeat in the July general elections. She secured 57 per cent of the vote in a two-way contest against Robert Jenrick, becoming the first Black individual to lead a UK-wide political party.
Born in London in 1980, Badenoch spent part of her childhood in Lagos and later the United States, where her mother worked as a lecturer. She returned to the UK at 16 to live with a family friend due to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
What You Should Know
The recent comments by Kemi Badenoch alleging that Nigerian law restricts women from passing citizenship to their children have drawn sharp criticism from the Nigerian government.
NIDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa strongly refuted her claim, citing the constitution, which clearly allows for citizenship through either parent. Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that while Nigeria supports its diaspora community, it would not accept false narratives that tarnish the country’s image.
This controversy adds to Badenoch’s history of making disparaging remarks about Nigeria, raising questions about her public positioning and identity as she rises in British politics.
